20/01/2010  Happy Valley  Race 8

As the start was effected, MY HOME TOWN, which had been fractious in the barriers, lifted its front feet off the ground and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, MY HOME TOWN will have to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. DYNAMIC BLITZ began awkwardly and then was steadied away from the heels of DOUBLE LUCK which shifted out. DYNAMIC BLITZ was then ridden along to obtain a forward position, however, throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. For some distance approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, GOOD STRIKE was steadied away from the heels of ISLAND SUPER. When questioned regarding his riding of MI REILLY, J Lloyd stated he was instructed that due to the horse having a tendency to over-race in its previous starts, he should ride the horse in a midfield position but to ensure that it settled. He said shortly after the start he allowed MI REILLY to shift in behind CARS KING PRAWN and he had intended maintaining a position behind that horse. He said however, in his opinion, the tempo of the race was particularly strong and rather than urge his mount to follow CARS KING PRAWN and have it over-race, he elected to have MI REILLY racing where it was comfortable and this resulted in a gap opening up between his horse and CARS KING PRAWN. He said he continued to be happy with the manner in which MI REILLY was travelling in the middle stages and for this reason when DOUBLE LUCK improved quickly around MI REILLY passing the 800 Metres, he did not ride his mount along to consolidate its position inside DOUBLE LUCK, but rather he allowed that horse to shift in in front of MI REILLY at the 600 Metres and immediately shifted to the outside of that horse. He said, in his opinion, to have ridden along to ensure DOUBLE LUCK was unable to shift in would have been detrimental to the chances of MI REILLY given his advice that his horse had proved difficult to settle in its previous races. He said after shifting to the outside of DOUBLE LUCK passing the 500 Metres, MI REILLY improved into the race well and quickened at the top of the Straight when clear running presented itself. He said passing the 150 Metres he was endeavouring to obtain a run to the inside of SUNNY GOLF which was shifting out, however, he momentarily became awkward on that horse’s heels when PERFECT STYLE improved to MI REILLY’s inside. He said for this reason he was obliged to steady MI REILLY for a number of strides before being able to resume riding the horse. He said in the run to the line MI REILLY got its head on the side and was inclined to lay out and for this reason he did not pull the whip on it. He said after being steadied at the 150 Metres, in his opinion, MI REILLY then finished off the race only fairly. J Lloyd was advised that the Stewards would note his explanation, however, his decision to allow DOUBLE LUCK to improve around MI REILLY and shift in near the 600 Metres had come under notice and that he should, where circumstances permit, ensure that horses ridden by him maintain favourable positions. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DOUBLE LUCK, B Prebble stated that he had intended to ride the horse quietly from a wide draw tonight. He said however that rounding the first turn DOUBLE LUCK was left racing wide, for this reason he allowed the horse to stride forward and obtained a position in midfield. He said DOUBLE LUCK travelled satisfactorily until straightening and although momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of CARS KING PRAWN near the 250 Metres, DOUBLE LUCK was disappointing in that it gave ground over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of DYNAMIC BLITZ and DOUBLE LUCK after the race did not show any significant findings. PERFECT STYLE and NORMAN INVADER were sent for sampling.